Hood River, OR: At La Clinica, "el jardin comunitario," growsagain

At La Clinica, bel jardin comunitariob grows again
Hood River News staff writer
May 21, 2005
Hardworking kids from the Teen Court and Juvenile Court Work Crew last week
put the finishing touches on a stylish new fence around bel jardin
comunitario,b
Hood Riverbs community garden.
Jose Sandoval, Teen Court Coordinator for The Next Door, provided adult
guidance for the teenagers, who spent three full weekends building the new
wooden
fence.
The garden is on the grounds of La Clinica del CariC1o Family Health Care
Center at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Eighth. Soon the garden will be a
patch
of colorful blooms and greenery.
Community volunteers reclaimed the long-neglected corner lots last year,
removing trash and overgrown shrubs, installing an irrigation system, and
building
up the soil for the areabs newest community garden.
bFor the gardenbs second season, we hope to emphasize its
community-building
possibilities,b said La Clinicabs executive director, Daniel Ward.
bWebre
surrounded by apartment dwellers who donbt have access to land for growing
their own food. Webre a community-owned clinic, and we have extra land, so
we
think we should share with our neighbors.b
This yearbs volunteer garden coordinator is Linda Floyd, a longtime Hood
River resident and experienced gardener. bIbm eager to help people who may
not
have gardened before discover the pleasure of raising their own food,b she
said.
In addition to acquiring donations from Next Door, Inc. and area businesses,
Floyd secured a small grant from Hood River Countybs Commission on Children
and Families to enable fence construction and irrigation improvements. Some of
the grant funds have also gone to providing seeds and vegetable starts for
first-time gardeners.
The garden will also be a teaching resource for some of the participants in
La Clinicabs weight management programs. bFor some people, reacquiring
their
tastes for unprocessed fresh fruits and vegetables helps get their weight
under
control. Healthy food seems to taste better when youbve grown it
yourself,b
Ward said.
bThis is a wonderful opportunity for us to teach and learn from each other,
to build on the diversity of our community, and just have fun digging in the
dirt,b added Floyd.
Odell orchardist Calvin Smith tilled the garden this weekend. Layout of the
pathways between the plots is underway. Plots will be available for planting
by
the end of this week.
People who are interested in gardening can call La Clinica at 386-6380 to get
in touch with Linda Floyd, the volunteer Community Garden Coordinator.
The garden can accept tax-deductible donations from individuals and
businesses, such as seeds, seedlings or starts, nursery stock, gardening
tools, and
benches. Arrangements can be made by calling Daniel Ward at 308-8354.
______________________________________________________
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